The Republic of Ascentida is a colossal, safe nation, ruled by Christian Matthew Davis with an even hand, and remarkable for its barren, inhospitable landscape, infamous sell-swords, and complete absence of social welfare. The hard-nosed, hard-working, devout population of 3.479 billion Ascendians have some civil rights, but not too many, enjoy the freedom to spend their money however they like, to a point, and take part in free and open elections, although not too often.

The medium-sized, corrupt government juggles the competing demands of Industry, Education, and Administration. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Andersonia. Citizens pay a flat income tax of 41.1%.

The frighteningly efficient Ascentidan economy, worth 522 trillion onars a year, is fairly diversified and led by the Arms Manufacturing industry, with significant contributions from Retail, Information Technology, and Book Publishing. Average income is an impressive 150,127 onars, but there is a significant disparity between incomes, with the richest 10% of citizens earning 459,307 per year while the poor average 38,009, a ratio of 12.1 to 1.

The government supplies ragtag bands of resistance fighters in exchange for vague promises of future payment, the streets are increasingly clogged with poverty-stricken beggars, spiritual tourists meditate in the ruins of Ascentidan cathedrals, and a flying elephant and Christian Matthew Davis share the same nickname. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to a capable police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Ascentida's national animal is the Ascendian brown bear, which teeters on the brink of extinction due to widespread deforestation, and its national religion is Christianity.

Ascentida is ranked 107,910^th in the world and 1,655^th in The North Pacific for Most Eco-Friendly Governments, scoring 783.73 on the Dolphin Recycling Awareness Index.